Wearable Payments Using Multiple Mounted Data Elements

ABSTRACT

Provided is a wearable device, including a base configured to be worn by a user, at least one data element at least partially positioned on or within the base and programmed or configured to have account data stored thereon, and at least one antenna including an open circuit, the at least one antenna at least partially positioned on or within the base and configured to transmit at least a portion of the account data and receive at least a portion of transaction data from at least one target device when the open circuit of the antenna is closed and becomes powered by at least one power source. Other expressions are also disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/936,735, filed Mar. 27, 2018, the disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Provided are representative expressions of a wearable device thatenables a wearer of the device to make payments using one of multipledata elements mounted in or in the wearable device.

2. Technical Considerations

To date, wearable payment devices largely focus on incorporating paymenttechnology into watches and fitness bands. Recently, applicationsinclude footwear, rings, applique tattoos and other types of wearables(such as bracelets, broaches, necklaces, belts, and controllers).However, these typically require making a payment either from a singledata element built into the device or from a single wallet programmed orconfigured in the wearable device with more than one stored account.When using more than one such data element, it may require replacing onedata element with another.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, it is an object of the present disclosure to provideillustrative expressions of improved apparatus, systems, and methods forenabling payments from a wearable device worn by a user that overcomesome or all of the deficiencies of the prior art.

According to a non-limiting expression, provided is a wearable device,comprising a base configured to be worn by a user; at least one dataelement at least partially positioned on or within the base andprogrammed or configured to have account data stored thereon; and atleast one antenna comprising an open circuit, the at least one antennaat least partially positioned on or within the base and configured totransmit at least a portion of the account data and receive at least aportion of transaction data from at least one target device when theopen circuit of the antenna is closed and becomes powered by at leastone power source, wherein at least a portion of the base is configuredto enable the at least one data element to make contact with the atleast one antenna to cause the at least one data element to activatesuch that the at least one antenna transmits at least a portion of theaccount data stored on the at least one data element and receives atleast a portion of transaction data from at least one target device whenthe at least one antenna is powered by at least one power source.

According to another non-limiting expression, provided is a wearabledevice wherein the at least one data element comprises at least onecontact, and wherein the base comprises at least one guide arranged toguide movement of the at least one data element on or within the base toat least one region of the base to make contact between the at least oneantenna and the at least one contact, thereby closing the open circuitof the at least one antenna.

According to another non-limiting expression, provided is a wearabledevice, wherein at least one data element is configured to bemanipulated in the at least one region to make or break contact with theat least one antenna.

According to another non-limiting expression, provided is a wearabledevice, wherein the at least one antenna becomes activated when it makescontact with the at least one antenna and the at least one antennabecomes powered by the at least one power source and is deactivated whenthe contact is broken and/or it is otherwise not powered.

According to another non-limiting expression, provided is a wearabledevice further comprising at least one power system, the at least onepower system comprising the at least one power source and a powercontroller configured to selectively power the at least one antenna withthe at least one power source.

According to another non-limiting expression, provided is a wearabledevice wherein the at least one antenna comprises at least one of thefollowing: an open loop, a braided loop, a coil, or any combinationthereof.

According to another non-limiting expression, provided is a wearabledevice, comprising a base configured to be worn by a user; at least onedata element at least partially positioned on or within the base andprogrammed or configured to store account data thereon; at least oneantenna at least partially positioned on or within the base andconfigured to transmit at least a portion of the account data andreceive at least a portion of transaction data from at least one targetdevice when activated by at least one power source; and at least oneswitch element at least partially positioned on or within the base,wherein the at least one switch element is configured to enable theswitch element to make contact with the at least one antenna and causethe at least one data element to activate and transmit at least aportion of the account data and receive at least a portion oftransaction data from at least one target device when the at least oneantenna becomes powered by at least one power source.

According to another non-limiting expression, provided is a wearabledevice, wherein at least one contact of the at least one data elementand/or the at least one switch element may make contact with the atleast one contact of the at least one antenna without having to bemanipulated on the base to initiate, conduct, and/or effect a paymenttransaction.

According to another non-limiting expression, provided is a wearabledevice, wherein the at least one switch element comprises a claspingmechanism configured to clasp onto at least one portion of the base.

According to another non-limiting expression, provided is a wearabledevice, wherein the at least one switch element comprises at least onecontact configured to make electrical contact with at least one contactof the at least one antenna to close an open circuit of the at least oneantenna.

According to another non-limiting expression, provided is a wearabledevice, wherein at least one switch element may be in contact with theat least one contact of the at least one antenna without having to bemanipulated.

According to another non-limiting expression, provided is a wearabledevice, further comprising at least one power system, the at least onepower system comprising the at least one power source and a powercontroller configured to selectively power the at least one antenna withthe at least one power source.

According to another non-limiting expression, provided is a wearabledevice, wherein in the at least one region in or on of the wearabledevice is in contact with the at least one antenna, the at least oneantenna is within a wireless and/or passive range of at least one targetdevice and powered either by a power system incorporated in the at leastone data element and/or passively by the at least one target devicethereby activating the at least one data element.

According to another non-limiting expression, provided is a wearabledevice, wherein the at least one antenna comprises at least one of thefollowing: an open loop, a braided loop, a coil, or any combinationthereof.

According to another non-limiting expression, provided is a wearabledevice comprising a base configured to be worn by a user; at least onedata element at least partially positioned on or within the base andprogrammed or configured to store account data thereon; at least oneantenna at least partially positioned on or within the base andconfigured to transmit at least a portion of the account data andreceive at least a portion of transaction data from at least one targetdevice data when activated by at least one power source; and at leastone shielding element at least partially positioned on or within thebase and/or the at least one data element, wherein the at least oneshielding element is configured to selectively allow or preventactivation of the at least one data element.

According to another non-limiting expression, provided is a wearabledevice, wherein the at least one shielding element comprises anelectrically non-conductive material or a material adapted to blockwireless signals.

According to another non-limiting expression, provided is a wearabledevice, wherein the at least one shielding element is configured to beopened to permit a payment transaction to be initiated, conducted,and/or effected, or closed to prevent the payment transaction to beinitiated, conducted, and/or effected.

According to another non-limiting expression, provided is a method ofconducting and/or effectuating a payment transaction using a wearabledevice, comprising activating at least one antenna positioned on orwithin the wearable device when at least one data element and/or atleast one switch element positioned on or within the wearable device tobe in contact with the at least one antenna, the at least one antennaconfigured to transmit at least a portion of account data to and toreceive at least a portion of transaction data from a target device whenpowered; transmitting, with the at least one antenna, the at least aportion of the account data to the at least one target device andreceiving from the target device the at least a portion of thetransaction data; and deactivating the at least one antenna when thepayment transaction is either accepted or rejected.

According to another non-limiting expression, the at least one antennais passively powered from the at least one target device.

According to another non-limiting expression, provided is a systemfurther comprising at least one power system, the at least one powersystem comprising the at least one power source; and a power controllerconfigured to selectively power the at least one antenna with the atleast one power source.

Further preferred and non-limiting expressions or aspects are set forthin the following numbered clauses.

Clause 1: A wearable device, comprising a base configured to be worn bya user; at least one data element at least partially positioned on orwithin the base and programmed or configured to have account data storedthereon; and at least one antenna comprising an open circuit, the atleast one antenna at least partially positioned on or within the baseand configured to transmit at least a portion of the account data andreceive at least a portion of transaction data from at least one targetdevice when the open circuit of the antenna is closed and becomespowered by at least one power source, wherein at least a portion of thebase is configured to enable the at least one data element to makecontact with the at least one antenna to cause the at least one dataelement to activate such that the at least one antenna transmits atleast a portion of the account data stored on the at least one dataelement and receives at least a portion of transaction data from atleast one target device when the at least one antenna is powered by atleast one power source.

Clause 2: The wearable device of clause 1, wherein the at least one dataelement comprises at least one contact, and wherein the base comprisesat least one guide arranged to guide movement of the at least one dataelement on or within the base to at least one region of the base to makecontact between the at least one antenna and the at least one contact,thereby closing the open circuit of the at least one antenna.

Clause 3: The wearable device of clauses 1 or 2, wherein the at leastone data element is configured to be manipulated in the at least oneregion to make or break contact with the at least one antenna.

Clause 4: The wearable device of any of clauses 1-3, wherein the atleast one antenna becomes activated when it makes contact with the atleast one contact and the at least one antenna becomes powered by the atleast one power source and is deactivated when the contact is brokenand/or it is otherwise not powered.

Clause 5: The wearable device of any of clauses 1-4, further comprisingat least one power system, the at least one power system comprising theat least one power source; and a power controller configured toselectively power the at least one antenna with the at least one powersource.

Clause 6: The wearable device of any of clauses 1-5, wherein the atleast one antenna comprises at least one of the following: an open loop,a braided loop, a coil, or any combination thereof.

Clause 7: A wearable device, comprising a base configured to be worn bya user; at least one data element at least partially positioned on orwithin the base and programmed or configured to store account datathereon; at least one antenna at least partially positioned on or withinthe base and configured to transmit at least a portion of the accountdata and receive at least a portion of transaction data from at leastone target device when activated by at least one power source; and atleast one switch element at least partially positioned on or within thebase, wherein the at least one switch element is configured to enablethe switch element to make contact with the at least one antenna andcause the at least one data element to activate and transmit at least aportion of the account data and receive at least a portion oftransaction data from at least one target device when the at least oneantenna becomes powered by at least one power source.

Clause 8: The wearable device of clause 7, wherein at least one contactof the at least one data element and/or the at least one switch elementmay make contact with the at least one contact of the at least oneantenna without having to be manipulated on the base to initiate,conduct, and/or effect a payment transaction.

Clause 9: The wearable device of clauses 7 or 8, wherein the at leastone switch element comprises a clasping mechanism configured to clasponto at least a portion of the base.

Clause 10: The wearable device of any of clauses 7-9, wherein the atleast one switch element comprises at least one contact configured tomake electrical contact with at least one contact of the at least oneantenna to close an open circuit of the at least one antenna.

Clause 11: The wearable device of any of clauses 7-10, wherein the atleast one switch element is in contact with the at least one contact ofthe at least one antenna being manipulated.

Clause 12: The wearable device of any of clauses 7-11, furthercomprising at least one power system, the at least one power systemcomprising the at least one power source and a power controllerconfigured to selectively power the at least one antenna with the atleast one power source.

Clause 13: The wearable device of any of clauses 7-12, wherein in atleast one region in or on the wearable device is in contact with the atleast one antenna, the at least one antenna is within a wireless and/orpassive range of at least one target device and powered either by apower system incorporated in the at least one data element and/orpassively by the at least one target device thereby activating the atleast one data element.

Clause 14: The wearable device of any of clauses 7-13, wherein the atleast one antenna comprises at least one of the following: an open loop,a braided loop, a coil, or any combination thereof.

Clause 15: A wearable device, comprising a base configured to be worn bya user; at least one data element at least partially positioned on orwithin the base and programmed or configured to store account datathereon; at least one antenna at least partially positioned on or withinthe base and configured to transmit at least a portion of the accountdata and receive at least a portion of transaction data from at leastone target device when activated by at least one power source; and atleast one shielding element at least partially positioned on or withinthe base and/or the at least one data element, wherein the at least oneshielding element is configured to selectively allow or preventactivation of the at least one data element.

Clause 16: The wearable device of clause 15, wherein the at least oneshielding element comprises an electrically non-conductive material or amaterial adapted to block wireless signals.

Clause 17: The wearable device of clauses 15 or 16, wherein the at leastone shielding element is configured to be opened to permit a paymenttransaction to be initiated, conducted, and/or effected, or closed toprevent the payment transaction to be initiated, conducted, and/oreffected.

Clause 18: A method of conducting and/or effectuating a paymenttransaction using a wearable device, comprising activating at least oneantenna positioned on or within the wearable device when at least onedata element and/or at least one switch element positioned on or withinthe wearable device to be in contact with the at least one antenna, theat least one antenna configured to transmit at least a portion ofaccount data to and to receive at least a portion of transaction datafrom a target device when powered; transmitting, with the at least oneantenna, the at least a portion of the account data to at least onetarget device and receiving from the target device the at least aportion of the transaction data; and deactivating the at least oneantenna when the payment transaction is either accepted or rejected.

Clause 19: The method clause 18, wherein the at least one antenna ispassively powered from the at least one target device.

Clause 20: The method of clauses 18 or 19, further comprising at leastone power system, the at least one power system comprising at least onepower source and a power controller configured to selectively power theat least one antenna with the at least one power source.

These and other features and characteristics of the present wearabledevices, as well as the methods of operation and functions of therelated elements of structures and the combination of parts andeconomies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon considerationof the following description and the appended claims with reference tothe accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of thisspecification, wherein like reference numerals designate correspondingparts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however,that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and descriptiononly and are not intended as a definition of the limits of theinvention. As used in the specification and the claims, the singularform of “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings incorporated herein illustrate one or more expressions ofthe present wearable devices and methods and help to explain differentaspects of the one or more expressions of the same. As such, thedrawings are not to be viewed as limiting any one aspect of anyexpression of the wearable devices and methods. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a non-limiting of expression or aspect ofa wearable device according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic, perspective view of a non-limiting expression oraspect of a wearable device according to the principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is schematic, top-down view of a non-limiting expression oraspect of a wearable device according to the principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic, longitudinal view of a non-limiting expression oraspect of a wearable device according to the principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a non-limiting expressionor aspect of a wearable device according to the principles of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic, perspective view of a non-limiting expression oraspect of a wearable device in wireless communication with anon-limiting representation of a target device according to theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a non-limiting expressionor aspect of a power system according to the principles of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 8A-B exemplify non-limiting expressions or aspects of antennaconfigurations in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a non-limiting expression or aspect of anantenna configuration in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic, perspective view of non-limiting expressions ofmanipulatable shielding in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 exemplifies schematics of alternate non-limiting wearable deviceexpressions in accordance with the principles of the present invention;and

FIG. 12 is a non-limiting representation of the process used to enableand initiate, conduct, and/or effect a transaction according to theprinciples of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EXPRESSIONS

For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “end,” “upper,”“lower,” “right,” “left,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,”“lateral,” “longitudinal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to theinvention as it is oriented in the drawing figures. However, it is to beunderstood that the wearable device and methods and processes may assumevarious alternative variations and step sequences, except whereexpressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood thatthe specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings,and described in the following specification, are simply exemplaryexpressions or aspects of the wearable devices and methods. Hence,specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to theexpressions or aspects disclosed herein are not limiting.

As used herein, the term “wearable device” is intended to mean anyarticle or accessory that may be worn by a person or adorned or to beused on or in an article of clothing.

As used herein, the term “data element” refers to one or more devicesthat contain, incorporate, host, is, or includes a memory device, suchas a chip, circuit, semiconductor, and/or other element that isprogrammed or configured to store at least a portion of account data fora user. A data element may be programmed or configured to initiate,conduct, and/or effect a payment transaction using any form of fiat ordigital currency, including loyalty points, bitcoin, ethereum, and/orother like currencies and/or payment methods. In non-limitingexpressions in which more than one data element is used for a wearabledevice, each data element may be programmed or configured to storeaccount data from the same account or different accounts.

As used throughout this application the term “antenna” refers to one ormore electrical components that may be used to receive and/or transmitaccount data and transaction data in an interaction with a targetdevice.

As used throughout this application the term “target device” refers toone or more mobile devices, point-of-sale devices, and/or other merchantterminals capable of initiating, conducting, and/or effectuating apayment transaction. In some non-limiting expressions, a target devicemay be capable of providing power to a passively activated data elementand/or interacting wirelessly with an activated data element.

As used herein, the term “contacts” refers to a component, region, orarea of an antenna or data element designed to conduct power such thatwhen they are used to close an open circuit of an antenna, a dataelement may be activated by a power source enabling it to initiate,conduct, and/or effect a payment transaction.

Representative, non-limiting expressions of the present wearable devicesand methods are directed to improved wearable devices with multiplepayment element capabilities. The improved wearable devices describedherein do not require replacing data elements or storing multipleaccounts on a single data element to achieve a wearable device withmultiple payment element capabilities. Illustrative, non-limitingexpressions of the present wearable devices and methods are directed towearable devices comprising a base worn by a user, at least onestationary or manipulatable data element programmed or configured tostore account data of at least one payment account, and at least onestationary or manipulatable antenna configured to transmit and receiveaccount data and transaction data when the data element is activatedand/or while interacting with at least one target device. In somenon-limiting expressions, the wearable device may also comprise one ormore stationary or manipulatable shielding elements to prevent theaccount data stored on the at least one data element from beingtransmitted by the at least one antenna or activated by an externaldevice.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram and perspective view of a wearable device100 according to one non-limiting expression or aspect. The wearabledevice 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a representative complement ofcomponents configured to initiate, conduct, and/or effect a paymenttransaction. In this expression, the wearable device 100 includes a base4, at least one data element 6, and at least one antenna 8. The antenna8 has an open circuit including at least one region 10 on or within thebase 4 that is configured to directly or indirectly complete the circuitto activate the data element 6 and/or provide power from at least onepower source. The open circuit of the antenna may therefore be closed toinitiate, conduct, and/or effect the payment transaction. Innon-limiting expressions, the data element 6 is programmed or configuredto store account data, at least a portion of which account data istransmitted to at least one target device (not shown). The wearabledevice 100, and particularly the antenna 8 and data element 6, may beconfigured to receive at least a portion of transaction data from thetarget device when activated by the power source.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, in some non-limiting expressions,the data element 6 may be positioned on or within the base. For example,the data element may be positioned on an inside surface of the base 4,on an outside surface of the base 4, and/or embedded within a channel inthe base 4. In non-limiting expressions, the data element 6 may bemanipulated along the base 4 such that the data element 6 can be movedto the region 10 on or within the base 4 to complete the circuit of theantenna 8. The data element 6 may be manipulated by moving, configuring,arranging, and/or positioning the data element.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram and perspective view of a wearabledevice 102 according to a non-limiting expression or aspect. Accordingto this non-limiting expression, the wearable device 102 comprises abase 4 which provides a structural foundation on or in which at leastone data element 6 may be mounted and manipulated and in which anantenna 8 may be positioned and/or integrated. A structural aspect ofthe base 4 includes a region 10 into which, or within which, the dataelement 6 may be manipulated. The wearable device 102 shown in FIG. 2includes multiple data elements 6, 12, 14. Each data element 6, 12, 14may include the same or different data. For example, in somenon-limiting expressions, each data element 6, 12, 14 corresponds to adifferent account associated with a user and stores account dataassociated with such accounts. Each of the plurality of data elements 6,12, 14 may be independently and/or separately mounted and positionedalong the base 4. Any number of data elements 6, 12, 14 may be used thatcan fit within the dimensions (e.g., length, width, height, or area) ofthe base 4 and the dimensions (e.g., length, width, height, or area) ofthe data elements. It will be appreciated that various otherarrangements are possible.

FIGS. 3 and 4 depict a schematic diagram and top and side views,respectively, of the base 4 of the wearable device 100, 102 according toa non-limiting expression or aspect. At least one antenna 8 ispositioned on or within the base 4. The antenna 8 is in the form of anopen circuit and is configured with one or more electrical contacts 16on the open end of the circuit. The electrical contacts 16 of theantenna 8 may be configured to establish an electric connection with oneor more electrical contacts 18 positioned on the data element 6.Accordingly, the data element 6 may be manipulated to or within a region10 on the base 4 to establish electrical communication between one ormore electrical contacts 16 on the antenna 8 and one or more electricalcontacts 18 on the data element 6, thereby closing the circuit of theantenna 8 and allowing it to transmit and receive data when powered by apower source.

With continued reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the data element 6 may alsoinclude circuitry for establishing an electrical connection between theelectrical contacts 18 of the data element 6. The base 4 shown in FIG. 3also includes another data element 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the dataelement 6 is positioned in a region 10 on the base 4. The data element14 is positioned remotely from the region 10 and is configured to bemanipulated into or within the region 10. Because the data element 14does not complete the antenna 8 circuit, the data element 14 remainsdeactivated and unable to transmit account data to or receivetransaction data from the target device and is, therefore, unableinitiate, conduct, and/or effect a payment transaction. The base 4 shownin FIG. 4 includes three data elements 6, 12, 14, where only one dataelement 6 is activated.

When the antenna circuit closes and becomes powered in the presence of atarget device (not shown), the data element 6 becomes activated and isthereby enabled to initiate, conduct, and/or effect a paymenttransaction by allowing an interaction to occur beween the antenna 8 andthe target device. The interaction allows the activated data element 6to transmit at least a portion of the account data stored thereon to thetarget device and to receive at least a portion of transaction data fromthe target device.

FIG. 4 further illustrates how the data elements 6, 12, 14 may beinstalled on or in the base 4 according to one non-limiting expressionor aspect. For example, the data elements 6, 12, 14 may be fitted intoor onto one or more guides 24 which run the length of the base 4 inalignment with the antenna 8. The one or more guides 24 permit the dataelements 6, 12, 14 to be manipulated to or within the region 10. Theguide 24 may include a track and/or a rail that engages a correspondingtrack and/or rail on the data elements 6, 12, 14. FIG. 4 illustrates thedata element 6 in the region 10 has been manipulated so that its contact18 is in electrical contact with the contact 16 of the antenna 8 while acomparable set of contacts on the data element 12 do not.

In the non-limiting expression shown in FIG. 4, the data element 6 is ina raised position in the region 10 relative to data elements 12, 14. Theraising of the data element 6 within the base 4 brings the contact(s) 18of the data element 6 into electrical contact with the contact 16 of theantenna 8. In this postion the circuit of the antenna 8 closes and thedata element 6 may be activated to initiate, conduct, and/or effect apayment transaction when powered by a power source (not shown). In thisconfiguration, the plurality of data elements 12, 14 remains unable toinitiate, conduct, and/or effect a payment transaction in so far as theyare not in contact with the contact(s) 16 of the antenna 8 and, thereby,remain deactivated. Similarly, lowering the data element 6 once itconducts and/or effects a payment transaction, deactivates the dataelement 6 insofar as raising it breaks the contact between thecontact(s) 18 and the contact(s) 16 of the antenna 8.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram and cross-sectional view of the base 4of the wearable devices 100, 102 according to a non-limiting expressionor aspect. FIG. 5 illustrates at least one detent 26 in the dataelement. The detent 26 permits the data element 6 to be raised andlowered with respect to the at least one guide. The raising and loweringof the data element 6 either brings the contact(s) 16 of the antenna 8into electrical contact with the contact(s) 18 of the data element 6 orbreaks an already-established electrical contact, depending on themanipulation used. In the arrangement of the data element 6 on the base4, raising the data element 6 closes the circuit of the antenna, whichwhen powered and in appropriate proximity of the target device (notshown), activates the data element 6 and enables the data element 6 toinitiate, conduct, and/or effect a payment transaction. Conversely, ifthe data element 6 is lowered after a payment transaction is completed,the lowering of the data element 6 may break the circuit, deactivatingthe data element 6 and thereby preventing a second payment transactionuntil it is again manipulated to do so. Although the detent 26 may beraised to activate the data element 6 and/or close the circuit of theantenna 8, and lowered to deactivate the data element 6 and/or open thecircuit of the antenna 8, it will be appreciated that the detent 26 maybe lowered to activate the data element 6 and raised to deactivate thedata element 6. Those of skill in the art appreciate that othervariations are possible.

In other non-limiting expressions, the detent 26 provides a securitymeasure for the wearable devices 100, 102. It permits the data element 6to be lowered after initiating, conducting, and/or effectuating apayment transaction to break the previously closed electrical circuit ofthe antenna 8, thereby deactivating the data element 6. In thisconfiguration, if the wearable devices 100, 102 are placed withinproximity of the target device (not shown) and capable of activating thedata element 6, a payment transaction cannot be inadvertantly initiated,conducted, and/or effected.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of the wearable devices 100, 102according to a non-limiting expression or aspect. The target device 28in FIG. 6 includes a power system capable of wirelessly and/or passivelypowering one or more data elements of the wearable devices 100, 102 whenthe wearable devices 100, 102 are positioned within a wireless and/orpassive power range wherein it may receive such power. When the wearabledevice 100 or 102 is positioned within the wireless and/or passive powerrange of the target device 28, and the data element 6 is manipulated tobe in a region 10 to close the open circuit of the antenna 8, theantenna 8 becomes passively powered by the power system. After the thetransmission and reception of at least a portion of account andtransaction data, the payment transaction will either be approved ordeclined.

While the antenna of a wearable device may be configured to be passivelypowered and the data element 6 activated, as illustrated in FIG. 6, inother non-limiting expressions the antenna may be powered and the dataelement activated through other methods. For example, as shown in theschematic diagram and cross-sectional view of the data element 6 in FIG.7, the data element 6 includes a power system including an on/offcontroller 32 (e.g., a button or switch) coupled to a stand-alone powersource 34 (e.g., a battery or the like). When the on/off controller 32is placed in an “on” position (for example, by pressing it), the powersource 34 provides power to the data element 6 and the antenna 8,activating the data element 6 to initiate, conduct, and/or effect apayment transaction when within the wireless range of the target device(not shown). Placing the on/off controller 32 in an “off” position (forexample, by depressing it) inhibits the power source 34 from providingpower by, for example, breaking electrical contact between the dataelement 6 and the antenna 8, thereby deactivating the data element 6 andpreventing it from transmitting account data to or receiving transactiondata from the target device until the on/off controller 32 is placed inan “on” position again.

The antenna of the wearable devices 100, 102 may take many forms.Illustrative non-limiting expressions or aspects of the antenna areshown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIGS. 8A-B, and FIG. 9. The antenna may be asingle wire loop on or in the base of the wearable device, a loop thatends at a region 10 along the base, as shown by antenna 8 in FIG. 1 andFIG. 2. Alternatively, the antenna may be configured as at least one setof braided wires 50, as depicted by the non-limiting expression shown inFIG. 8A. The antenna may also be configured as least one set of coils 52arranged on a data element 6, as depicted in the non-limiting expressionshown in FIG. 8B, which may be integrated with a power system includinga power source 34, as depicted by the non-limiting expression shown inFIG. 9. Those of skill in the art appreciate that the antenna may be anyform or type suitable for use with the wearable devices describedherein.

In non-limiting expressions or aspects, a switch element may bepositioned on or within the base of the wearable device. The switchelement may be arranged to make electrical contact with the antenna toclose the open loop of the antenna, thereby allowing the antenna totransmit account data stored on the data element when the data elementis activated by a power source. For example, if the coil antennaillustrated in FIGS. 8A-B and FIG. 9 is on a switch element without apower system (FIGS. 8A-B) or with a power system (FIG. 9), the switchelement may be used to close a circuit of the at least one antenna.

The switch element may be used in various combinations with theplurality of data elements. For example, the switch element may replaceone of the data elements of a plurality of data elements on a wearabledevice in non-limiting expressions or aspects in which the wearabledevice comprises at least two data elements.

Alternatively, the switch element may be positioned at the region 10 onthe base 4 of the wearable devices 100, 102. For example, the switchelement and a structural element positioned on the region 10 may bedesigned as two parts of a clasp mechanism such that the switch elementcan be mechanically coupled to the region 10 of the base. The switchelement may clasp onto, for example, a portion of the base having astructural lip, gap, groove, or protrusion. In this manner, the switchelement may lock, latch, and/or attach to the region 10 of the base 4 ofthe wearable devices 100, 102.

When the switch element is used in non-limiting expressions or aspects,the base 4 of the wearable devices 100, 102 may be designed so that anyof the data elements may be raised and/or lowered using the structuralelements previously described. In such non-limiting expressions, theantenna may have at least one contact 16 at each of the data elementpositions, and each of the data elements may have at least one contact18 such that if the contact(s) 18 is lowered it makes contact with thecontact(s) 16 of the antenna, closing the antenna circuit. When thecircuit is closed and the antenna powered, a data element may becomeactivated or conversely it may be deactiviated if it is raised, therebyopening the circuit.

When the switch element is used as one of at least two parts of a claspmechanism, the antenna of a wireless device may be powered eitherwirelessly and/or passively or by the power system of the typeillustrated in FIGS. 8A-B that is integrated into the data element.Alternatively, the clasp may itself integrate the integrated powersystem of the type illustrated in FIGS. 8A-B. In such non-limitingexpressions, the clasp may be used to activate the data element whichdoes not have the integrated power system in lieu of the data elementbeing activated by the antenna being powered either wirelessly and/orpassively.

A wearable device that uses a switch element to close the circuit of theantenna and in which the data element is in contact with the antennawhen the circuit is closed, conducts or effects a payment transaction inthe presence of the target device when the antenna becomes eitherwirelessly and/or passively powered by the target device or powered by apower system that has been incorporated into either the data element orthe switch element. At such times, the data element becomes activated,wherein it transmits to the target device at least a portion of theaccount data and receives from the target device at least a portion oftransaction data. On these bases, the payment transaction may be eitheraccepted or rejected.

FIG. 10 depicts a schematic, perspective view of alternativeconfigurations of the data element and/or the switch element accordingto a non-limiting expression or aspect, including configurationsincorporating a built-in “door” or “window” shielding element comprisedof an electrical and wireless non-conductive/transmissive material. Insome non-limiting expressions or aspects, a base of the wearable devicemay also include such a shielding element. Using a data element and/orswitch element configuration with a shielding element in a wearabledevice allows a data element and/or a switch element to be permenantlyin contact with the antenna of a wearable device. As illustrated innon-limiting expressions or aspects shown in FIG. 10, the built-in door54 may be raised, or the built-in window 56 slid open, to expose thedata element and/or the switch element to a target device to enable apayment transaction to be conducted or effected as operationallydescribed above when the data element is in contact with the antenna,the antenna is powered, and the wearable device is within the wirelessand/or passive power range of the target device.

FIG. 11 illustrates non-limiting schematic perspective views ofnon-limiting expressions or aspects of several alternate wearable devicedesigns. The wearable devices may incorporate the described components,structural elements, configurations, and operations described herein toinitiate, conduct and/or effect a payment transaction. Shown in FIG. 11are non-limiting expressions and aspects for a broach 58, a ring 60 withdata elements arrayed around its surface, a button 62, and a ring 64with data elements housed in meshing gears on the top of the ring. Thebroach 58, rings 60, 64, and button 62 each include data elements 6, 12,14 and region 10. For simplicity of illustration, the data element andantenna contacts are not shown, but are assumed incorporated. Note thatillustrated guides and antennas expressions of the variety of wearablebases may be continuous if their at least one data element and/or atleast one switch element integrates a power system of the typepreviously described or when the at least one antenna may be wirelesslyand/or passively powered. In either case, a payment transaction will notoccur until the at least one data element contacts the at least oneantenna and becomes activated within wireless and/or passive power rangeneeded to interact with the at least one target device.

Finally, a non-limiting flow diagram for a method by which a paymenttransaction payment may be conducted or effected by a wearable deviceappears in FIG. 12. As described in step 40, at least one data elementis selected to initiate, conduct, and/or effect a payment transaction.The at least one data element and/or at least one switch element ismanipulated in step 42 to close an antenna circuit on the wearabledevice. In step 44, the antenna is powered by a power system, which mayeither be a passive power system of a target device or a power systemintegrated in the at least one data element or the at least one switch.Once the antenna is powered, the at least one data element is activated,although in some wearable devices this may require that a shield bemoved or opened to enable the at least one data element to interact withthe target device. In step 46, the at least one data element may beselected to initiate, conduct, and/or effect the payment transactionafter being activated by the powered antenna. Once activated and withinthe range of the wireless range of the target device, step 48illustrates that the at least one data element interacts with the targetdevice and, in particular, transmits at least a portion of account datafrom account data programmed or configured on the at least one dataelement to the target device and receives at least a portion of thetransaction data from the target device. The payment transaction iseither accepted or rejected, and step 49 shows the deactivation of theat least one data element and/or switch element.

Although the present wearable devices and methods have been described indetail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currentlyconsidered to be the most practical and preferred expressions, it is tobe understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that thewearable devices and methods are not limited to the disclosedexpressions, but, on the contrary, are intended to cover modificationsand equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of theappended claims. It is understood that the present wearable devices andmethods contemplate that, to the extent possible, one or more featuresof any expression can be combined with one or more features of any otherexpression.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A wearable device, comprising: a baseconfigured to be worn by a user; a first data element at least partiallypositioned on or within the base and configured with first account datacorresponding to a first account; a second data element at leastpartially positioned on or within the base and configured with secondaccount data corresponding to a second account; and at least one antennaat least partially positioned on or within the base, the at least oneantenna configured to transmit the first account data in response toestablishing an electrical contact with the first data element, andtransmit the second account data in response to establishing anelectrical contact with the second data element.
 2. The wearable deviceof claim 1, further comprising a third data element at least partiallypositioned on or within the base and configured with third account datacorresponding to a third account, wherein the at least one antenna isconfigured to transmit the third account data in response toestablishing an electrical contact with the third data element.
 3. Thewearable device of claim 1, wherein the first data element is configuredto be moved with respect to the at least one antenna, and wherein theelectrical contact with the first data element is established when thefirst data element is moved to a region associated with the at least oneantenna.
 4. The wearable device of claim 3, wherein the second dataelement is configured to be moved with respect to the at least oneantenna and independent of the first data element, and wherein theelectrical contact with the second data element is established when thesecond data element is moved to the region associated with the at leastone antenna.
 5. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the at least oneantenna is configured to be moved with respect to the first data elementand the second data element.
 6. The wearable device of claim 1, whereinthe at least one antenna is configured to be powered by a power sourceof a target device separate from the wearable device, wherein the firstaccount data is transmitted in response to establishing the electricalcontact with the first data element and being powered by the powersource, and wherein the second account data is transmitted in responseto establishing the electrical contact with the second data element andbeing powered by the power source.
 7. The wearable device of claim 1,further comprising: a power source arranged on or within the base; andan on/off controller coupled to the power source, wherein the first dataelement is powered in response to user manipulation of the on/offcontroller, and wherein the first account data is transmitted inresponse to establishing the electrical contact with the first dataelement and being powered by the power source.
 8. The wearable device ofclaim 7, wherein the first data element comprises the power source andthe on/off controller.
 9. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein thefirst data element comprises a switch element, wherein the at least oneantenna comprises an open circuit, and wherein the switch element isconfigured to close the open circuit.
 10. The wearable device of claim1, wherein the switch element is configured to clasp to a region of thebase.
 11. A method for conducting a transaction, comprising:manipulating at least one of a first data element and a second dataelement along a wearable device, wherein the first data elementcomprises first account data and the second data element comprisessecond account data different than the first account data;communicating, with at least one antenna, the first account data to anexternal device by establishing an electrical contact between the firstdata element and an antenna positioned on or within the wearable device;and communicating, with the at least one antenna, the second accountdata to the external device or a different external device byestablishing an electrical contact between the second data element andthe antenna.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein a third data elementcomprises third account data different than the first account data andsecond account data, further comprising communicating, with the at leastone antenna, the third account data to an external device byestablishing an electrical contact between the third data element and anantenna positioned on or within the wearable device.
 13. The method ofclaim 11, wherein manipulating the at least one of the first dataelement and the second data element comprises sliding the first dataelement or the second data element along a base of the wearable devicetoward the at least one antenna.
 14. The method of claim 11, whereinmanipulating the at least one of the first data element and the seconddata element comprises moving the first data element or the second dataelement to a region associated with the at least one antenna.
 15. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising powering at least one of thefirst data element and the second data element with a power source of atarget device separate from the wearable device.
 16. The method of claim15, further comprising moving the wearable device within range of thetarget device.
 17. The method of claim 11, further comprising poweringat least one of the first data element and the second data element witha power source arranged on or within the wearable device.